Dougie Hamilton

The 21-year-old Hamilton is still growing into his 6-foot-5 frame, but with two years as an NHLer already under his belt, the smooth-skating blueliner is poised to see a boost in production in 2014-15. Last season, Hamilton, recorded seven goals and 18 assists in 64 games fo...

The 19-year-old blueliner Hamilton more than held his own in his first NHL season, recording five goals and 11 assists in 42 games. In recognition of his effort, he was given the Bruins’ Seventh Player Award, presented to the player who went above and beyond the call of duty for the team and exceeded the expectations of fans during the 2012-13 season. During the postseason, he only suited up for seven games, notching three helpers, as the team decided to roll with more experienced options, as well as the streaking Torey Krug. In the long-term though, Hamilton is brimming with potential. He's a smooth skater, who displays poise and skill with the puck, and once he adds some more bulk to his 6-foot-5 frame and gains more pro experience, the defensive end of his game should round out further to complement his developing offensive game.

2012-13

The 19-year-old Hamilton is not eligible to play in the AHL next season and he has nothing to prove at the junior level, having dominated OHL competition last season to the tune of 17 goals and 55 assists in 50 games for the Niagara IceDogs. Assuming he sticks with the big club, Hamilton's initial utility will hinge on how much, if any, power play time he sees out of the gate. Given that the unit was not particularly dynamic for the B's last season, it's not hard to imagine the talented Hamilton getting a chance to work on special teams straight away. Hamilton still needs to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame, but his nice size/skills combo evokes memories of a young Rob Blake. In any case, he’s a blue-chip prospect who is already gold in keeper formats.

2011-12

The Bruins selected Hamilton with the ninth overall pick in June's NHL Entry Draft, passing up an opportunity to scoop up dynamic puck-moving defenseman Ryan Murphy. In time, Bruins' fans figure to be happy with the pick, given the Rob Blake comparisons Hamilton has drawn, as the result of his nice combination of size and skill at both ends of the ice. He still has some filling out to do, but he could be a good option in a year or two and is one to target in keeper leagues.